High, im trying to keep my soil from compacting. the soil compacts every time i water. i added perlite to my foxfarm ocean forest soil but i didnt really mix it throughout, i put 2 inches of perlite on bottom then some soil then another layer of perlite then more soil. and its too late to add more perlite becuase i already put my plant in the pot and i dont want to risk damaging roots trying to mix perlite in there.
how do i keep soil from compacting
- Thread starter The Lorax
- Start date
nothing you can do.. even when you mix in perlite, then water, you are going to compact the soil/flood out all of the air pockets.. learn from your mistake i guess and be sure to mix the perlite in next time 
normally when you mix up your soil you want to flood the pot so the soil settles.. then you can add more soil to the the pockets and get things good that way.. the perlite is just to help with drainage, not soil compacting though really. look at the natural soil out there.. its compact as all heck and stuff still grows fine in it
normally when you mix up your soil you want to flood the pot so the soil settles.. then you can add more soil to the the pockets and get things good that way.. the perlite is just to help with drainage, not soil compacting though really. look at the natural soil out there.. its compact as all heck and stuff still grows fine in it
proheto8008
Well-Known Member
ADD PERLITE at a decent ratio. Which means that if you have a two gallon pot then at least 3/4 of a gallon or more should be perlite. This is only if you really favor a light fluffy mix. This will def keep your soil from compacting and loosing all space for oxygen.
doc111
Well-Known Member
Why are you so concerned about it?
AquafinaOrbit
Well-Known Member
Sounds like you just planted it, so just remove the plant and mix the soil/perlite then re-insert plant. Pretty simple, but soil always compacts some, thats what soil does it's just when you add other things that don't compact as well it breaks up the compaction.
DND
Well-Known Member
I do this too, everyday I play with my plants' soil that I have in veg.
I like watching the plants, it gives me something to do and it seems like when I water it helps because the soil isn't as compacted. I hear water and air flowing to the bottom. Does it make a difference? I don't know for sure.
proheto8008
Well-Known Member
I wouldnt add stones to the soil. You can add stones to the bottom to help with drainage.
But perlite will handle the mixing and the drainage at the bottom issue.
doc111
Well-Known Member
Me calm down? Really? Mr. double post. If you are concerned about soil compacting (which you can't do anything about anyway) why don't you just go hydro? Or Aero? That way you don't have to worry about soil compacting and killing your roots.
proheto8008
Well-Known Member
you dont know what you're talking about